Trenton Marriott passes 4-3, but has hurdles to go

TRENTON — City officials will need to find one vote in a couple weeks in order for the Trenton Marriott to stay open.

Council voted 4-3 to introduce a $3 million bond ordinance late Thursday night for transition and renovation costs at the city’s only hotel.

The measure still needs to clear two hurdles: the New Jersey Local Finance Board will still need to approve it at its June 12 meeting and then council will need a fifth vote for final adoption.

The city’s bond counsel Ed McManimon immediately told council after Thursday’s initial vote that two-thirds of the governing body or five votes is required for a bond ordinance.

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“If it’s 4-3 again, it’s rejected,” he said after the meeting.

The Lafayette Yard Community Development Corporation, the public board that owns the hotel, wants to use the $3 million to transition the hotel to a Wyndham because Marriott is pulling out of the location on June 14. If the funds aren’t secured, the hotel could go dark.

After Thursday’s vote, LYCDC Chairwoman Joyce Kersey said she is hopeful that one council member will change his or her position.

“I’m hopeful that we can get that support that we need so that we can begin to move forward and upgrade the hotel,” Kersey said.

Council members George Muschal, Phyllis Holly-Ward and Zachary Chester all voted against the bond.

Muschal said his vote would stay “no” for the final vote.

Holly-Ward and Chester were both undetermined on how they will vote for the final adoption.

“If there was a sufficient plan, I would consider it,” Holly-Ward said. “I don’t support a flag, but I would truly look into the options of an independent.”

Chester said it will depend on the information he receives.

“If there is a plan, I could change my vote,” he said, noting there is not one yet. “You can’t keep coming to me with doomsday. I’m not accepting doomsday. We deserve better than that.”

On Thursday, council also approved $200,000 for a new reservation system for the hotel because Marriott is taking its system when the company leaves the location. The resolution was approved 4-3 with the same officials voting the same way as the ordinance.

The $200,000 will not need state approval because it was set aside in the budget and will not need to be voted on again because it was a resolution.

About the Author

Originally from Webster, N.Y., David has been a reporter in N.J. for the past three years (first in Phillipsburg and now in Trenton).He is a Temple alum who interned at the Philadelphia Daily News. Reach the author at dfoster@trentonian.com
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